Chapter 157 Going to Beijing for the Examination

The Qin family had a good new year this year.

This was unimaginable in previous years.

The whole family is in high spirits.

Sanlang, wearing new clothes, came to Qin Chi while biting a rice cake, and whispered, "Brother, can my uncle pass the imperial examination?"

"Do you want him to win, or not?" Qin Chi asked with a smile.

Sanlang thought about it seriously and nodded, "Think about it! If we pass the imperial examination, our family will be better off."

Qin Chi responded: "That's right."

When Song Jin heard the two of them talking, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

There was no such good thing in my previous life.

In this life, because the eldest wife lived well, and because she and Qin Chi interfered and added fuel to the fire, Qin Mingsong had to benefit his family for the sake of his reputation after passing the imperial examination.

In the previous life, when the second and third rooms were divided up, they only received twenty acres of land and one hundred taels each.

On the second day of the New Year, Qin Chi took the excuse of burning incense and praying for blessings and went to Ciguang Temple with his eldest wife and family to burn incense and stay for three to five days.

In fact, he was going to see Helian Pu.

When I returned to Qinjiagou, I didn't expect that my home was so lively.

Qin Mingsong packed his boxes and went to Beijing for the imperial examination, and he needed someone to accompany him and do some chores for him.

Old Qin originally wanted the eldest brother to accompany him to Beijing.

But the eldest son's family had not returned from the temple to pray, so they wanted the second or third son to go with them.

After careful consideration, this task fell on Qin Lao Er.

The expenses for food and lodging were inevitable for accompanying him, but Mrs. Liu only gave one or two taels of silver, saying that it was not enough and asked the second wife to pay for it.

Qin Lao Er was so angry that he laughed, "Lao Si, this time it's your second brother who is sorry for you. Let mother buy you a follower."

"Second brother, let me talk to mother first."

Qin Mingsong also disagreed with Old Liu's behavior. Such a scene just before departure would upset anyone. He turned to Old Liu and said, "Mother, do you really have to make trouble for your son's exam?"

Old Liu was very persistent on this matter. "Fourth son, mother has calculated that one tael of silver is enough. This trip to take the exam will take two months. One penny can buy two steamed buns. If he eats six steamed buns a day, he won't have to spend two hundred coins for two months. Besides, staying in a large bunk bed in the inn will only cost four cents a night. According to my calculation, there will be a surplus of one tael of silver for a round trip."

Old Liu was indeed very careful with her money, and continued, "If it's really not enough, he's tough, so he can sleep in the carriage, saving four cents a day in accommodation fees."

Qin Chi and Song Jin came over and heard old Liu settling the accounts.

Song Jin's mentality was inexplicable.

Qin Chi, on the other hand, was somewhat amused and could not help but say, "Grandma, how do you think your uncle will be treated if you calculate this way? You should know that last time your uncle only went to the provincial government to take part in the provincial examination, he asked for fifty taels of silver. This time he will need more silver to go to the capital."

"If grandma calculates it this way, my uncle won't have to spend a penny when he comes back." Song Jin added half-jokingly.

Old Liu retorted, "Of course the fourth child is different. How can the second child be compared with the fourth child?"

"There's no comparison. One is living a prosperous life, the other one is eating coarse food." Song Jin's voice was soft, neither anxious nor irritable, but it made the person involved feel anxious.

Go from Huizhou to the capital to take the exam.

Taking the waterway is time-consuming, requiring three or four months, while taking the official road takes about nineteen days.

Sometimes calculation is one thing and execution is another.

The steamed buns sold outside at that time, the kind that cost two for one penny, were not made of pure white flour, but were mixed with other coarse grains. They could not be said to be delicious and could only be used to fill hunger.

Not only do they have to travel continuously, but they also have to eat steamed buns every day. No one can stand it.

No wonder Qin Laoer was unwilling to go.

Old Man Qin looked at Old Liu with a warning look, "Go get another two taels of silver for the second son."

"Dad, I don't want to go anymore."

Qin Laoer was heartbroken.

In the eyes of his parents, he was only fit to be a slave, and no amount of money could make up for his mother's contemptuous attitude.

Old Man Qin had no choice but to tell Boss Qin: "Then Boss, accompany Si'er on the trip."

Boss Qin has always been filial.

After a long silence, he nodded.

Mrs. Li didn't say anything, but just carried her grandson back to the room.

Qin Chi and Song Jin looked at each other.

I regret that I should have stayed in the temple for one more day.

Finally, Qin Chi was still a little worried, so he asked Lao Huo to stay with his father and go to Beijing with his father.

Old Huo had been so idle recently that he almost grew hair, so he agreed immediately.

When Qin Mingsong set out, he saw a big man with a knife at the door and was surprised.

"Brother, who is this?"

"Dalang was worried, so he asked us to come and escort us." Boss Qin smiled honestly.

Qin Mingsong had no doubts.

When candidates went to Beijing to take the imperial examinations, those who could afford it would hire bodyguards to escort them.

There is no wrong version in the 1619 book forum!

The carriage set off, and the Qin family accompanied them all the way to the village entrance.

Also seeing him off at the village entrance were the village chief, clan leader, and a group of villagers. Some people also prepared some food to see Qin Mingsong off.

Qin Chi and Song Jin also came to the village entrance.

Under the pretext of coming to see Qin Mingsong off, he was actually coming to see Boss Qin off.

Song Jin handed a large bundle to Boss Qin, "This is what mother prepared for father. Please take good care of yourself on the way and don't let her worry."

"Your mother didn't come?"

Boss Qin looked around and was a little disappointed when he didn't see his wife.

Qin Chi couldn't bear to look at this father, "If you can't bear to leave your mother, why do you agree to it?"

"If I don't go, won't the responsibility fall on your two uncles in the end?" Boss Qin did not hide anything in front of his son.

Everyone knows this is a tough job.

Boss Qin didn't want to embarrass his two younger brothers, so when Old Man Qin asked, he agreed.

"Take good care of your mother at home. I will be back in two months at most." Boss Qin had calculated that the round trip would only take two months.

Having gained experience from this trip, I won’t be at a loss when sending my son to take the imperial examination next time.

Qin Chi's eyes fell on Lao Huo.

Old Huo patted his chest and silently promised that he would protect Boss Qin.

The two people's eyes were very dark, and no one else noticed. Qin Chi was still worried, so he secretly arranged for someone to keep an eye on them.

Wait until the carriage disappears around the bend in the road.

The people from the village who came to see them off also dispersed.

Qin Chi, Old Man Qin, the clan leader and others stood aside and talked.

Song Jin originally planned to go back.

Song Xiu, who also came out to see someone off, actually followed her this time.

"Sister, let's talk."

Since Qin Mingsong took a concubine, Song Xiu has not had a single chat with Song Jin, and she no longer comes to show off like she used to.

It's like I grew up all of a sudden.

But Song Jin knew that a dog will always eat shit.

Song Jin walked towards his home step by step, each step was steady and not too fast.

Song Xiu followed closely, "I didn't thank you for your help last time."

"Thank you for sending a concubine to Qin Mingsong?" Song Jin turned around and looked at Song Xiu with a smile.

Song Xiu's face twisted for a moment, then she regained her composure in an instant, "It can't be helped. I understand. I understand that my sister is doing this for my own good and has good intentions."

PS: The prices are based on the Ming Dynasty, not made up by the author.